Scandinavia

SCANDINAVIA
FINLAND & SWEDEN
There are lakes everywhere, to be exact 184,885. The country is 10% water, 69% forest and the remainder is cultivated. The population of Finland is approx 5,200.
We left St Petersburg late on Sunday morning after overnight rain and drove towards the border post at Imarta. The clearance through the border into Finland was surprisingly quick compare with entering from Mongolia. We met a really nice Finish man named Niklas while queuing to get across the border; he was extremely helpful and friendly. From the border we headed North West for a short distance where we found the perfect overnight spot in a forest on the edge of a lake. It was so tranquil, we set up our little table and chairs and had a pre dinner drink watching the sun set and thinking of everyone at home. Unfortunately our cell phones don’t seem to work here.
Finland is so clean and the people are friendly, at last we could read the signs and most people speak English. We came into a little township at lunch time so first stop was a supermarket to restock the cupboards and the fridge and find a laundromat as it the washing was really piling up due to our not being able to find one in Russia. It is surprising how many other travellers are on the road; most of them our age and from all friendly and we already have invites to stay with several people in Europe. We then moved on to find a place to park for the night. The only thing available was a privately owned camping ground which was beautiful and once again on a lake, we couldn’t resist it especially as there was a sauna on site. From here we drove some distance to Oulu which is on the ocean opposite Sweden, we were excited at the thought of being on the coast so found the perfect spot to stay overnight just 4 meters from the water’s edge and witnessed a beautiful sun set with a glass of red wine from Chile before cooked dinner. By now the temperature was dropping due to a northerly front coming through so out came the winter woollies. From Oulu still heading north as we make our way across Sweden to the coast of Norway, stopping in the tiny village of Gylen where we camped on the edge of town on the lake front, the temp is 10c, a brisk walk along the lake front and back to the truck, thank goodness Moggy has a very efficient heater and we are snug as bugs, plus having our own bathroom facilities means we don’t have to go outside. A glass of red wine from Argentina and we are ready to cook supper.
We continue to drive along the coast and crossed the border just after Kemi, the border being a small bridge, half in Finland and half in Sweden. From here we made our way across the very northern part of Sweden, my goodness it was cold (4.9c) As Sweden is long and narrow it does not take long to drive across. That part of the country is mountain and skiing villages.
NORWAY
We crossed the border into Norway just below Narvik, there was a full border post but it was not manned so we could just drive straight through. The weather changed immediately, the sun was shining, and it felt as though the country was saying welcome. The topography changed completely, it actually feels very much like NZ, very clean and green, in fact we could learn a lesson or two from them re environmental care etc. We found a wonderful place to park for the night before moving on to the islands which form the Norwegian archipelago. To say it is beautiful is an understatement; the camera is in constant use. We are meandering south criss crossing the islands many of which are connected by amazing bridges, tunnels that go under the water and car ferries. The car ferry we took cost the equivalent of $16.50 NZ for the Moggy and the two of us for a 20 min journey, so cheap. The places to park and stay the night are frequent and have amazing views across the fjords or mountains. We will continue to the bottom of the fjords then cross to the main land by ferry and make our way south to Oslo. The wonderful weather we are having is meant to last for a few more days.
We still want to go to Stockholm and then go across to Denmark before making our way to Amsterdam to visit Josephine, Theo and Leonardo, then finally on to Austria to stay with Seigrid and Gerhard. We leave for South Africa via Dubai for a quick visit with Julia on the 14th October as by then Europe will be cold and we have decided not to do winters for the next couple of years
Thanks to those of you who have sent us lovely emails we miss you all.
Norwegian statistics; population 4.8 million;38.2% land covered in forest;44.4% mountains and mountain platau;7% fresh water and glaciers. We would recommend this as a country to visit.
Love and best wishes to you all
Vic & Michele, The Weranui Wanderers
P.S. Our business cards we had made are going down a treat with people we meet)